A prairie gal who travelled east years ago and liked the supportive atmosphere, Wempe writes songs that would stand up solo if needed. On Coalition, she engages a robust roster of players for a set that will get the folkies up to shake it out. There's a gospel, or at least inspirational, fervour throughout. The intensely rhythmic numbers are like a rootsier K.T. Tunstall. The Annapolis Valley gets some notoriety in the ballad "Gaspereaux Lake." "The River" does everything but baptize the listener, with its choir, handclaps and producer Chris Kirby's resonating guitar. What Wempe's vocals lack in sweetness, they make up in heat.
